And having hemmed and cough'd—begin."
But cough must be pronounced in the old Anglo-Saxon way, and not as coff. The power of the letter d, at the commencement of words, is not quick and sharp like the c, but rather slow and heavy; and this effect is vastly increased when an r is added. Thus, for instance:—
"Drags its slow length along."
"Not all the drowsy syrups of the world."
"The dreary melody of bedded reeds."
"Snivelling and drivelling folly without end."
"Good shepherds after shearing drench their sheep."
"And dropping melody with every tear."
Such words, too, as drawl, droop, drip, drizzle, drum, and others, may be, have been used excellently in poetry. The f is a letter expressive of a light and rapid action, at least when conjoined with other consonants. Campbell uses it finely in both ways:—
"But see! 'mid the fast-flashing lightnings of war.